Catalina Island History

Introduction
The enchanting resort community of Avalon was experiencing it's hey day prior to the breakout of World War II. The summer seasons showcased topnotch entertainment and a wealth of activities that celebrated the Island's natural environment and encouraged a relaxing resort lifestyle. Hollywood celebrities were a common sight, the hottest Big Bands of the time played the Casino Ballroom, mariachis and Spanish dancers delighted visitors, and the entire town would greet each steamer that docked in Avalon Bay. But, this all came to a quick end after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December of 1941.

In the days that followed the bombing of Pearl Harbor several actions were taken that threatened the Island's usual tourist activities. However, since the attack occurred during the Island's usual "off-season" the full impacts were not realized until the spring of 1942. These initial effects were seen in transportation, which was and still is the Island's lifeblood. Mere days after the attack, all air transport passengers were required to check their cameras to prevent aerial photography and the Santa Catalina Island Company was ordered to cease construction on the Airport-in-the-Sky. Within two weeks the United States Coast Guard ordered regularly scheduled steamship passenger service ceased. Catalina Island was declared a Federal Military Zone and the San Pedro Channel was designated a controlled area for vessels. The Coast Guard issued identification cards and travel permits to all local residents, yet travel across the channel was allowed only on a minimal basis. The cessation of steamer service to the Island meant no tourists and as the summer season approached it became clear that the Island's resort activities would be shut down. Many local residents who relied on tourism to make a living left the Island - some finding employment in mainland shipyards.

US Maritime Service
Many Island residents remember the United States Maritime Service activities quite well because they lived among the servicemen. The USMS moved their entire training operation from Port Hueneme, CA to Avalon and leased the Hotel Atwater, Hotel St. Catherine, Island Villas, Chicago Cubs ballpark and clubhouse, the hospital, Catalina Island Yacht Club and the Casino building. Trainees spent between two and four months on the Island receiving a variety of training. The United States Maritime Service was a branch of the United States War Shipping Administration and under the jurisdiction of the United States Navy. The Maritime Service was established to train personnel for merchant ships. The trainees received extensive physical training and were expected to master several skills including how to abandon ship, swim through oil and fire, man lifeboats and fire anti-aircraft guns. The Maritime Service had four training ships at Avalon and built sections of ships on land for further training. After the 13 week boot camp, the servicemen were given a variety of tests to determine what job they would be placed in. The Avalon Training Station produced many deckhands, oilers, firemen, watertenders, cooks and bakers that made significant contributions to the war effort.

Although receiving the proper training needed to man merchant ships was their primary occupation, there were a few distractions. The Avalon Theatre hosted boxing every Friday night, USO shows were a frequent offering and on most Saturday evenings there would be a street dance in Avalon where the Maritime Service Band would entertain the servicemen and locals. There were even one or two lucky servicemen who shared a dance with Norma Jean Dougherty (Marilyn Monroe) who lived on the Island with her first husband during his permanent assignment with the Maritime Service.

US Coast Guard
On the other end of the Island, the United States Coast Guard declared the entire Isthmus area of the Island a highly restricted military reservation and vigilant around-the-clock sentry posts were established in critical locations. Before the war the Isthmus had been used extensively for motion picture productions and was a popular yachting destination. The Coast Guard quickly changed this by setting restrictions on commercial and recreational boats. No vessels were permitted to anchor or moor in Isthmus Cove or Catalina Harbor and many private yachts were requisitioned by the Coast Guard to be used for patrol. The Coast Guard set up a sophisticated training station where new recruits received two months of extensive training in all manner of seagoing skills including: basic seamanship, small boat handling, close order drill, manual of arms, gunnery, first aid, chemical war defense and fire fighting, to name a few. After having successfully completed the intensive training period, the young sailors were transferred to Wilmington, CA and awaited their assignments to Pacific units.

The primary focus of the Coast Guard station was training, but life at the Isthmus during the war was not always serious, in fact the station played host to USO entertainment shows and a few tennis and boxing exhibitions. Bill Tilden and Errol Flynn once played a tennis match for the trainees and Jack Dempsey sparred against station staff member Tommy Garland in a temporary boxing ring set up on the beach. Despite the occasional distraction, many servicemen recall their time on Catalina Island as a mental and physical challenge. Live weapon firing, gas mask indoctrination, operating whaleboats and manning their sentry posts is what occupies most of their memories.

Camp Cactus
In addition to the obvious military installations on Catalina Island there were other secret activities taking place. The U.S. Army Signal Corps leased several acres of the rugged interior on the windward side of the Island from the Santa Catalina Island Company and set up a sophisticated radar station for surveillance operations. The site, known as Camp Cactus, was operated by the 654th Signal Corps Aircraft Warning Company, attached to the 4th Army Air Corps. Six major buildings were constructed at Camp Cactus and gun emplacements and bunkers were established in other strategic locations. Camp Cactus’ mission was to detect the approach of Japanese warplanes and ships with newly developed secret radar technology. Camp Cactus was linked directly to Fort Mac Arthur in San Pedro, Los Angeles’ main line of coastal and harbor defense during the war. During its peak of operation, up to 60 men were stationed at Camp Cactus. Radar and lookout towers were manned 24 hours a day to keep close watch on the open ocean for any signs of Japanese invasion ships and submarines.

Office Strategic Services
Another top secret operation on the Island during the war was a training station for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), now known as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), set up a training station at Toyon Bay -- a cove about two and half miles northwest of Avalon. The OSS was established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt shortly after the war began in Europe in 1939. The OSS was Roosevelt’s answer to the changing face of warfare and the organization’s specialty lied in surveillance, sabotage and covert warfare. The top secret OSS training base was initially set up on Catalina Island in late 1943 and operated throughout 1945. The strategic location was chosen for its beaches backed by steep mountains and the fact that there was no access road to the site. The men who trained at Toyon Bay became weapons experts and were trained in martial arts, methods of “silent killing”, demolitions, map reading, cryptography, and survival. The training classes would also conduct mock raids on the U.S. Coast Guard base at Two Harbors and other ‘enemy’ targets on the Island. Agents were landed by submarine and rubber boats at other ‘enemy-held’ strongholds. The OSS trainees from Toyon Bay later served in Burma and China where they conducted behind-the-lines- intelligence work for the British and Indian armies.

Islander Experience
For the people who lived on the Island during the war, life continued yet daily pursuits had a different purpose. School was in session, many stores were open, sport and commercial fishing continued, but the tourists were replaced by hundreds of servicemen. The community became involved in wartime rationing programs by collecting old tires, pots and pans, desks, file cabinets, kitchen appliances and a variety of other miscellaneous material which were all recycled to build the equipment and weapons required for national defense. The automobiles on the Island were subject to gas rationing as well. Each vehicle had A, B, or C stickers on their windshields. "A" meant that trips were not essential, "B" indicated that the car was required for work; and "C" was issued to those whose transportation was absolutely necessary such as doctors, firemen, law enforcement and military personnel. Nonessential users were restricted to three gallons per week. Island residents also used ration points for food and supplies. Many residents also remember Avalon being under strict blackout conditions and having a real fear of attack because of the Island's close proximity to the coast. Some remember crossing the channel in the S.S. Avalon while being tracked by United States Air Force flying avengers and followed by mine sweepers and submarine chasers. The entrance to Los Angeles Harbor was gated with steel cables to prevent submarines from entering and would have to be moved each time the steamer would enter or exit the harbor.

Japanese submarine sightings added to the wartime tension for many residents. The Avalon Fire Department's daily logs document one such sighting. According to the 1942 Fire Department log, "The County Fish and Game boat Grey Gull reported seeing three Japanese submarines about five miles off shore at Silver Canyon about 500 feet apart at 2:00 a.m. The Grey Gull